Translation and Meaning of: 人 - jin

The Japanese word 人[じん] is one of the most fundamental and versatile terms in the language. Its basic meaning refers to "person" or "human being," but its usage goes much further, appearing in everyday expressions, country names, and even philosophical concepts. In this article, we will explore its origin and how it fits into Japanese culture, along with practical tips for those learning the language.

If you have already studied Japanese, you have probably encountered 人[じん] in different contexts. It can be combined with other kanji to form words like 日本人 (nihonjin - Japanese) or 外国人 (gaikokujin - foreigner). Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to uncover not only the meaning but also the cultural and grammatical details that make this word a key piece in the Japanese vocabulary.

Meaning and usage of 人[じん]

The kanji 人, read as じん (jin) in certain combinations, represents the idea of person, individual, or humanity. Unlike the reading ひと (hito), which is more generic, じん usually appears in compound words, especially to indicate nationality or groups of people. For example, アメリカ人 (amerikajin) means "American," while 社会人 (shakaijin) refers to a "member of society" or "professional."

An interesting characteristic is that じん is not limited to humans. In terms like 宇宙人 (uchūjin - alien), it expands its meaning to include any intelligent being. This usage reflects how the Japanese language can be flexible, adapting a basic concept to various contexts, from everyday life to science fiction.

Origin and writing of the kanji 人

The kanji 人 has a history that dates back to ancient China, where its original form represented a human being in profile. Over time, this pictographic representation evolved into the simplified strokes we use today. In Japan, it was incorporated into the writing system and gained multiple readings, including じん (jin), にん (nin), and ひと (hito).

Interestingly, 人 is one of the first kanjis that students learn, precisely because of its simplicity and frequency. It appears in over 1,300 words in the dictionary, according to Kanjipedia, one of the most reliable databases on Japanese characters. Its radical (the part that indicates meaning) is itself, which makes it easier to memorize for beginners.

Tips for memorizing and using 人[じん]

An effective way to remember 人[じん] is to associate it with words that are already part of your vocabulary. For example, if you know that 日本 (Nihon) means "Japan," it's easy to remember that 日本人 (Nihonjin) is "Japanese." This pattern repeats in various nationalities, such as フランス人 (Furansujin - French) or 中国人 (Chūgokujin - Chinese).

Another tip is to pay attention to the context. While じん appears more in compound terms, ひと is used alone or in informal expressions. A common mistake among beginners is saying じん when referring to a specific person, such as in *あのじんは優しい (ano jin wa yasashii). The correct form would be あの人は優しい (ano hito wa yasashii), since じん does not function as a standalone noun in these cases.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 者 (sha) - Person, someone, usually used in formal or legal contexts.
• 男女 (danjo) - Men and women; refers to both sexes.
• 人間 (ningen) - Human being, the condition of being human, emphasizing the nature and essence of humanity.
• 人物 (jinbutsu) - Character or person, focus on individual or notable characteristics.
• 人類 (jinrui) - Humanity refers to the entirety of the human species.

人

Romaji: jin
Kana: じん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: man; person; guys

Meaning in English: man;person;people

Definition: human. A type of living being that has reason and emotions, and that shapes society and culture.

Example Sentences - (人) jin

See below some example sentences:

ギャングは暴力行為をする人たちの集まりです。

Gyangu wa boryoku koui wo suru hitotachi no atsumari desu

Gang is a group of people who commit acts of violence.

Gang is a gathering of people who play violence.

• ギャング - gang
• は - partícula que indica o tópico da frase
• 暴力行為 - violent acts
• を - article indicating the direct object of the sentence
• する - to do
• 人たち - pessoas
• の - particle possession indicating
• 集まり - coleta
• です - copula indicando que a frase é uma afirmação

お姉さんはとても優しい人です。

Oneesan wa totemo yasashii hito desu

The older sister is a very kind person.

Your sister is a very kind person.

• お姉さん - honorific for "big sister"
• は - Topic particle
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 優しい - adjective meaning "kind"
• 人 - noun that means "person"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

ある人生は一度きりです。

Aru jinsei wa ichido kiri desu

The life we have is unique.

A life is only lived once.

• ある (aru) - means "to exist" or "to have"
• 人生 (jinsei) - means "human life"
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 一度 (ichido) - "once"
• きり (kiri) - means "only" or "just"
• です (desu) - Verb "to be" in the present tense

瞬きが速い人は神経が鋭いと言われています。

Winku ga hayai hito wa shinkei ga surudoi to iwareteimasu

People with rapid blinking are said to be nervous.

• 瞬き - - blink of an eye
• が - - subject particle
• 速い - - fast
• 人 - - person
• は - - Topic particle
• 神経 - - nervous
• が - - subject particle
• 鋭い - - sharp
• と - - Quote particle
• 言われています - - it's said, it's spoken

お兄さんはとても優しい人です。

Oniisan wa totemo yasashii hito desu

My older brother is a very kind person.

Your brother is a very kind person.

• お兄さん - Older brother
• は - Topic particle
• とても - very
• 優しい - kind
• 人 - person
• です - verb to be in the polite form

お祖母さんはとても優しい人です。

Obaasan wa totemo yasashii hito desu

My grandmother is a very kind person.

• お祖母さん - grandmother
• は - Topic particle
• とても - very
• 優しい - kind
• 人 - person
• です - Ser/estar (linking verb)

お祖父さんはとても優しい人です。

Ojiisan wa totemo yasashii hito desu

My grandfather is a very kind person.

• お祖父さん - Grandmother
• は - Topic particle
• とても - very
• 優しい - kind
• 人 - person
• です - Ser/estar (polite form)

カロリーを気にする人は多いです。

Karorī o ki ni suru hito wa ōi desu

Many people worry about calories.

Many people worry about calories.

• カロリー (karorī) - calories
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 気にする (ki ni suru) - to worry, to be alert
• 人 (hito) - person
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 多い (ooi) - many
• です (desu) - verb to be, to stay

コーチは運動選手を指導する人です。

Kōchi wa undō senshu wo shidō suru hito desu

A coach is someone who guides athletes.

The coach is a person who teaches athletic players.

• コーチ - trainer
• は - Topic particle
• 運動選手 - athlete
• を - direct object particle
• 指導する - instruct
• 人 - person
• です - is

この事件の推定犯人は誰ですか？

Kono jiken no suitei hannin wa dare desu ka?

Who is the suspect in this incident?

Who is the estimated culprit in this case?

• この - demonstrative "this"
• 事件 - noun "incident"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 推定 - noun "estimate"
• 犯人 - noun "criminal"
• は - topic particle "は"
• 誰 - interrogative pronoun "who"
• ですか - interrogative particle "is?"